Aaron Kelly jailed for assault causing harm in drugs robbery

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

Aaron Kelly (20), an international amateur boxer, received a two-and-a-half-year prison term with the final 18 months suspended at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Karen O’Connor imposed the sentence. The proceedings were reported on 4 March 2016.

Kelly, of Hillview Estate, Ballinteer, Dublin, pleaded guilty to breaching the peace and assault causing harm. The breach of the peace occurred at Newlands Terrace, Terenure, on 6 June 2014. The assault causing harm occurred at Rathdown Avenue, Terenure, on 14 July 2014.

Fiona Murphy, prosecuting, said Kelly called to Martina Courtney’s home looking for her son, Daragh Dodrell, and became verbally abusive. He threatened that he had a bullet for her head and a bullet for her son’s knee.

The report said Kelly lured the dealer to a meeting on the premise of buying drugs. Kelly and another man approached Daragh Dodrell and three friends. Kelly punched him, injuring his nose and tooth and causing heavy bleeding. Drugs were demanded and a knife was held to him. He was made to drive to the hidden drugs, and Kelly stood on his legs while checking them.

The judge considered the offences’ seriousness and their effect on the victims, noting Kelly’s talent, family support and lack of addiction issues. Martina Courtney said she felt like a prisoner in her home and had left her job. The judge accepted a defence submission that not all of Daragh Dodrell’s suffering could be blamed on Kelly because he had involved himself in drug dealing.

Padraig Dwyer SC, defending, asked the judge to consider Kelly’s rehabilitation efforts in prison. He said Kelly had become a listener for the Samaritans and completed a driver theory course.